diff --git a/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js b/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
index 55e3a985a..7aed26ed5 100644
--- a/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
+++ b/notebook/static/notebook/js/actions.js
@@ -380,13 +380,25 @@ define(function(require){
                 env.notebook.merge_cell_below();
             }
         },
-        'merge-cells' : {
+        'merge-selected-cells' : {
             help : 'merge selected cells',
             help_index: 'el',
             handler: function(env) {
                 env.notebook.merge_selected_cells();
             }
         },
+        'merge-cells' : {
+            help : 'merge selected cells, or current cell with cell below if only one cell selected',
+            help_index: 'el',
+            handler: function(env) {
+                var l = env.notebook.get_selected_cells_indices().length
+                if(l == 1){
+                    env.notebook.merge_cell_below();
+                } else {
+                    env.notebook.merge_selected_cells();
+                }
+            }
+        },
         'show-command-palette': {
             help_index : 'aa',
             help: 'open the command palette',
diff --git a/notebook/tests/notebook/dualmode_merge.js b/notebook/tests/notebook/dualmode_merge.js
index a10819b16..e3751951a 100644
--- a/notebook/tests/notebook/dualmode_merge.js
+++ b/notebook/tests/notebook/dualmode_merge.js
@@ -185,14 +185,13 @@ casper.notebook_test(function () {
         // shift-m on single selection does nothing.
         this.trigger_keydown('shift-m');
         this.trigger_keydown('esc');
-        this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cells_length(), N-1 , 'Merge cell 4 with 5: There are now '+(N-1)+' cells');
+        this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cells_length(), N-2 , 'Merge cell 4 with 5: There are now '+(N-2)+' cells');
         this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(0), a, 'Merge cell 4 with 5: Cell 0 is unchanged');
         this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(1), b, 'Merge cell 4 with 5: Cell 1 is unchanged');
         this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(2), c, 'Merge cell 4 with 5: Cell 2 is unchanged');
         this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(3), d+'\n\n'+e, 'Merge cell 4 with 5: Cell 3  is unchanged');
-        this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(4), f, 'Merge cell 4 with 5: Cell 5 is unchanged');
-        this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(5), g, 'Merge cell 4 with 5: Cell 6 is unchanged');
-        this.validate_notebook_state('merge on single selection does nothing', 'command', 4);
+        this.test.assertEquals(this.get_cell_text(4), f+'\n\n'+g, 'Merge cell 4 with 5: Cell 4 and 5 are merged');
+        this.validate_notebook_state('merge on single cell merge with below', 'command', 4);
     });